Tag Archives: hiking

Hector’s Run Falls is located in the Allegheny National Forest, between Route 6 in Ludlow and Route 948 in Barnes. The best access is via Route 6.WARNING: There are steep cliffs at the falls, and cell phone service drops off about half-way into the hike. Wear footwear with good tread, and be careful when hiking near the edge.

From Sheffield, take Route 6 to Ludlow.
Turn right onto South Hillside Drive, just as you come into Ludlow.
Turn left onto Water Street.
Turn right onto Scenic Drive.
After about a mile, you will turn right onto Forestry Road 258.
In 2.1 miles, you will reach Forestry Road 258H, on your left, which is gated off. There is a small parking area beside the gate.

This is where your hike begins. Hector’s Run Falls are approximately 1 mile from the gate.
Follow 258H to the fork in the road and take the left fork (downhill.) You will come to a small meadow, with a light blue National Fuel well-head. The trail turns to the right, as you’re facing the well-head.
Continue to follow the trail for another 200 yards, or so, and you will arrive at the top of the falls.

Please note that this was our first trip to the falls, and we did not take the left fork of the road, and ended up coming through the forest, following the sound of the water. So, the video begins as we arrive at the side of the falls. The falls usually only have water running over them after a recent rain. Be sure to plan your hike accordingly.

The fourth annual Fall Festival will be held at Chapman State Park October 3 -4 with activities for all ages. The festival will kick off Friday night with “Geo-Caching at Night.” Participants are asked to meet at the Amphitheater at 7:00 pm and to bring a flashlight. A limited supply of GPS units will be available for use during the program.

Activities will be held from 12:00 – 4:00 pm on Saturday at the beach and Pavilion #2. This year we are welcoming several new additions to the festival. They include “Drop Spindle Basics”, “My Wee Rv”, “Astronomy”, “Bird Watching”, “Primitive Fire”, “Friends of Allegheny Wilderness” and “PA Firefly Festival Partnership.” Canoes and kayaks will be available to try out in the lake. All boats will be located on the beach. The Jammers, a group of local musicians, will be playing acoustic, traditional folk music in Pavilion 2. Master Blacksmith, Leon Briggs, will be demonstrating the art of blacksmithing with items on hand for purchase.

Favorites from last year will also be returning. Apple cider, Dutch oven, homemade ice cream and garbage can corn demonstrations with samples available. The Warren County Conservation District will be presenting “Macros of Chapman” at the Beach. Be prepared to get your feet wet as you search for life in the lake. The Bureau of Forestry will be conducting a “Leaf Printing” program. Learn about fall leaves and then make a leaf print to take home. Stop by the lumbering demonstration to learn about the history in this area.

A “Chapman Information” table will be available from 12:00 – 4:00 pm. A list of all activities for the festival, will be available along with Winterfest, hiking and camping information. Stop by and chat with the campground hosts as they will be able to answer all kinds of questions.

The concession will be open from 12-4 pm. The boy scouts will be selling food and drinks.

The fall festival will conclude with a “Night Sky Watch” presented by Tom Traub, Project Director for the Martz Observatory. We’ll be trying out the park’s telescope to discover where and when to look for meteor showers, planets and deep sky objects. If you have a telescope gathering dust, bring it out and get some tips on using it from an expert. The program begins at 6:30 pm at the Beach. Please bring a chair or blanket and a flashlight.

If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact the Pennsylvania Bureau of State Parks at 1-888-PA-PARKS (voice), 717-558-2710 (local or international voice), or 711 (AT&T Relay Services). With at least three days notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.

For more information on Chapman State Park or any of Pennsylvania’s other state parks, call 1-888-PA-PARKS between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday; or visit DCNR’s website: www.dcnr.state.pa.us (Select Parks).

Hiking is more than putting on a pair of boots and walking in the woods. It’s a lifelong recreational activity that can increase one’s stamina, endurance and athleticism. It’s also the basis of numerous other recreations including backpacking, orienteering and geo-caching. Learn how to enable your students to discover Penn’s Woods through an interdisciplinary set of lessons created by the PA Bureau of State Parks. Lessons focus on health, fitness and trip planning; map reading and identifying local trails; forest ecology as well as nature journaling. The lessons meet several Physical Education & Health standards as well as standards for Geography, Science & Ecology and the Humanities. This course will provide you with 6 hours of ACT 48 hours. Registration is limited to 20 participants, please register early.

Do you live in Warren County and like to write about local events, news, and attractions?

Warren County’s Community Website is looking for local correspondents that are interested in helping showcase all that Warren County and the surrounding area has to offer.

Articles can cover nearly any topic, such as local events, news, nature, recreation, boating, camping, hunting, fishing, hiking, government, and even politics. Photos are encouraged. Our primary focus is to showcase this beautiful area we live in, as well as providing useful information to both locals and visitors to our area.

I first created Warren County’s Community Website in 2008, and it has continued to grow through the years. I have come to the realization that I can’t be everywhere, or even try to keep up with all that is happening around the county. Ideally, we need a small group of people adding articles from different fields of interest.

So, if you think you’d like to be an active part of Warren County’s Community Website, please get in touch via email through Darr Web Solutions or message us on Facebook.

“They belong to you and me. The National Forests – all 191 million acres of them – exist for the hunter and the hiker, the forester and the family, the timber cutter and the tree hugger. They’re ours. Remember that.”

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The exciting book A Season on the Allegheny, by western Pennsylvania author Robert Hilliard, is now available for download as an eBook from Amazon’s Kindle Store. If you have a Kindle, just go to the Kindle Store and download A Season on the Allegheny right to your device. If you don’t, click on the cover image below to preview and download A Season on the Allegheny for your iPad, iPhone, PC, or Mac right now.

Don’t have a Kindle reader for your PC or Mac yet? No problem! Just click here to download one for free!

For just $4.99 (free for Kindle Prime members) you can enjoy A Season on the Allegheny, a rollicking account of a year spent hunting on the Allegheny National Forest. Hilliard tracks down more than deer, turkey, and grouse – he captures the forest’s magnificent past and finds the people who are still making history on the Allegheny today. He also pursues the many controversies that swirl around Pennsylvania’s only National Forest, including anti-logging and anti-drilling protests, Wilderness designations, and ecoterrorism.

In addition,A Season on the Allegheny uncovers the quiet but powerful impact of hunter-based conservation groups. It demonstrates that from habitat improvements to legal aid, groups such as the Ruffed Grouse Society, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Pheasants Forever have spent countless hours and dollars making the Allegheny National Forest a better place for both animals and people.

Like what you read? Post a review at Amazon’s Kindle Store!

Facebook fans – Don’t forget to Like A Season on the Allegheny!

So if you love hunting, the Allegheny National Forest, or just entertaining books about the outdoors, go to Amazon’s Kindle Store and download your copy ofA Season on the Allegheny today.

About the Author: Rob Hilliard has written on sports, history, and the outdoors for nearly two decades. Formerly a contributing editor with Ohio Valley Outdoors magazine, where he created the popular column, “In the Public Domain,” Rob has also written numerous feature articles for magazines such as Upland Almanac, Pennsylvania Wildlife, Pittsburgh History Magazine, ESPN Outdoors, Ohio Game and Fish, and Pennsylvania Game and Fish. He was also a contributing author for the 2000 book Rivers of Destiny.

EACH DAY WILL BE FILLED WITH EXCITING HANDS ON ACTIVITIES, A GAME OR TWO AND JUST PLAIN FUN! SO BRING A FRIEND FOR AN OUTDOOR ADVENTURE! YOUTH WILL LEARN ABOUT FISH, AMPHIBIANS, MAMMALS AND MORE. PARTICIPANTS WHO COMPLETE THE CAMP WILL RECEIVE THE BUREAU OF STATE PARKS DISCOVERE!-PENN’S ADVENTURERS BADGE AND CERTIFICATE.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND WILL BE LIMITED TO 15 CHILDREN, ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS. THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS DAY CAMP. FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR TO REGISTER, CALL THE PARK OFFICE AT 814-723-0250.

Fifteen year old Eagle Scout candidate, Thomas Henry of Youngsville, PA, recently completed his Eagle Project at Chapman State Park. Tom took on the task of improving the trail signage along the nearly 12 miles of hiking trails within the state park. This project coincided with a state wide initiative to improve trail markings in state parks and state forests to give the visitors a more consistent marking system from park to park and forest to forest. The planning stage of the project began this past winter, with Tom making a material list and raising funds for the supplies needed to complete the project. Tom’s family also chipped in to help complete the task. His Father, Ralph Henry, did a majority of the routing while Tom set up the letters for his father on the blank signs. On June 5, 2011, after many hours of work, Tom and members of his scout troop installed 23 trail signs throughout Chapman State Park’s trail system. Park Manager Jim McCorkle said, “This was a huge help to the park and will be greatly appreciated by our hikers. This project has been on the ‘to do’ list for over a year at Chapman and we are thankful to Tom and all who assisted in his project”

This is not so much a “hike”, as an exploration. A ridge, several hundred yards long, made of giant glacial rocks, with numerous cracks, crevices, and caves. Perfect for careful exploration. This rock formation is located on Forestry Road 179, near Sheffield. Watch the video for a preview of this area. The last few minutes of the video is a walk through a natural tunnel in the rocks.

DANGER: There are steep cliffs!!! A fall from one of these rocks would cause severe injuries and possibly death! The caves/ crevices could be home to wild animals, from opossums to raccoons to foxes to bears. Most wild animals are dangerous when cornered.

The Allegheny National Forest chapter of the North Country Trail will hold it’s monthly meeting on Nov. 15 at the Lion’s Den in Sheffield at 6:30. We will discuss, amongst other items, the construction of the Beaver Run bridge, north of Kelletville, and the large highway signs to be placed at major road crossings. There will also be a report on the re-route being done by Minard Run Drilling along the trail north of Rt 59.

The ANF chapter maintains a 100 mile section of a 4600 mile national scenic foot path. This is almost all within the boundaries of the Allegheny National Forest. The maintenance is constant to keep the trail open and an enjoyable walk for all who venture outdoors. Beside hikers and their families, many hunters and fisherman use this trail to get to their “hot spots.” This meeting is open to all who want to contribute to this to this trail. Whether it’s a good idea or a pair of hands, come over to the meeting, all are welcome. For more information, contact, Keith Klos at 814-484-7420

Bent Run is a small stream that descends between Forest Road 160 and Route 59, above the Kinzua Dam. Over the mile it descends, the water drops about 700 feet in a series of small cascades, ending in small pools. The largest waterfall is about 30 feet, when the stream is at capacity. A series of falls can be seen from the parking area. There is a rocky worn trail leading alongside the falls, up the hill. It is possible to travel from the base of the run all the way to the top, but climbing becomes difficult. Best viewing time is after a good rain or during the Spring thaw, when the stream is in its full glory. During drier times of the year, the flow is reduced to a trickle.

Note: Steep and rocky terrain – rocks become very slippery when wet. Trail becomes less distinct as you gain altitude.

Amenities:

Public restrooms at nearby Kinzua Dam

To reach the trailhead from Warren, Pennsylvania:

Take Route 59 past the Kinzua Dam – Bent Run parking area is on the right, just a short distance past the Kinzua Dam

This 11.1 mile trail is located approximately one half mile north of Hearts Content Recreation Area along SR2002 (the Hearts Content Road), 15 miles southwest of Warren, PA. the and forms a loop through the Hickory Creek Wilderness.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO HICKORY CREEK WILDERNESS TRAIL HIKERS
This trail is marked infrequently with faded yellow blazes. In keeping with Wilderness values, they will be allowed to fade further over time and will not be replaced. This may make the trail difficult to follow, especially when fallen leaves or snow make the established tread more difficult to see.

All trail maintenance is done to protect the Wilderness character of the area, not for the convenience of the visitors to this place. This means that obstructions on the trail will not be removed unless not doing so would cause irreversible environmental damage. This may make the trail even more difficult to follow. It is suggested that all hikers have and know how to use a map and compass or GPS device when hiking in Hickory Creek Wilderness.

The 11.1 mile Hickory Creek trail provides a unique opportunity for those who seek a Wilderness trail challenge not available elsewhere in this region of the country. If a Wilderness maintenance standard is not the type of hiking experience you seek, we encourage you to explore any of the nearly 200 miles of well-marked developed hiking trails available throughout the Allegheny National Forest.

Finding the trail: The new trailhead parking lot is located approximately one half mile north of Hearts Content Recreation Area along SR2002 (the Hearts Content Road), 15 miles southwest of Warren, PA. US 6 and Township Road T3005 meet in the middle of Warren at the Hickory Street Bridge. TR 3005 begins here, crossing the Allegheny River toward Warren General Hospital (bear left away from the hospital after you cross the bridge). Follow TR 3005 about 11 miles to its junction with a marked township road which leads to Hearts Content Recreation Area (four miles).

Hiking the trail: Watch the informational signs. This trail offers challenges to a wide range of skill levels as it traverses the rolling terrain within the Hickory Creek Wilderness. From Hearts Content Recreation Area, the trail heads westward along the top of the plateau between East Hickory and Middle Hickory Creeks. Once the trail reaches Jacks Run, it loops back eastward and climbs in and out of several small valleys along the way.

Fishing for small native brookies can be done in East and Middle Hickory Creeks. Enjoy the wildlife viewing as you hike. The vegetation found in the Hickory Creek Wilderness supports wildlife typically associated with older trees and decaying vegetation. Groves of hemlock may be found along the lower half of East Hickory Creek. Middle Hickory Creek flows through meadows studded with bogs and beaver ponds. Large white pine are scattered in open areas. The most significant evidence of human intrusion that still remains are several old railroad grades used in early logging efforts.

Camp overnight as you enjoy the Hickory Creek Wilderness, or make a long day trip through the wilderness.

Regulations: The trail currently blazed infrequently with yellow paint on tree blazes, but is in the process of being changed to unpainted tree blazes in order to be more compatible with a wilderness designation. Normal wilderness regulations apply, including no motorized vehicles or equipment use of any kind. Forest trail policy prohibits the use if a saddle, pack or draft animal on hiking trails.